Archives for 2013

Get a Long-Lasting Luxury Lip Gloss Look for a Penny Less Than 9 Bucks With Sonia Kashuk’s New Luxe Lip Gloss

April 9th, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

Sonia Kashuk Ultra Luxe Lip Gloss in Prettiest Pink ($8.99) — In the category of “Favorite Drugstore Lip Gloss,” I’m currently crushing on Sonia Kashuk’s Ultra Luxe Lip Gloss in Prettiest Pink ($8.99)

Lucky number nine!

That’s how many shades Sonia Kashuk crafted of her new $9 ($8.99 to be exact) Ultra Luxe Lip Gloss. Partial to pale pinks? Check. Nudes? Got ya covered. Rich plums? Right here.

Right now I’m hooked on Prettiest Pink and Polished Plum, both of which, like the other colors in the line, are unscented and unflavored. Every time I swipe one of their brush applicators across my lips, I’m blown away by how evenly they apply, and I think the pigmented, non-sticky formula feels fantastic (and lasts from 2-4 hours). It’s juiced up with papaya extract, glycerin and antioxidants to make it hella hydrating, too.

“This next-generation lip gloss formula delivers beautiful, buildable color with instant softness and multi-dimensional shine. This lightweight, gel-like texture glides on comfortably to leave lips feeling kissable and moisturized — never sticky. Shades range from subtle nude to bold brights. Infused with Glycerin, Fatty Acids and emollients to hydrate lips and Papaya Fruit Extract, a natural skin softener, this multi-tasking gloss enhances skin’s elasticity and protects lips with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.”

— target.com

Sonia Kashuk Ultra Luxe Lip Glosses in Polished Plum on the top and Prettiest Pink on the bottom ($8.99) — Sonia Kashuk Ultra Luxe Lip Glosses in Polished Plum on the top and Prettiest Pink on the bottom ($8.99 each)

Sonia Kashuk Ultra Luxe Lip Gloss Swatches in Prettiest Pink on the left and Polished Plum on the right

Sonia Kashuk Ultra Luxe Lip Gloss in Polished Plum

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The MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinishes Sculpt and Spotlight Skin, Getting You Ready to Take the Stage

April 9th, 2013 by Karen 28 Comments

The three MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinishes ($30 each for a 0.31-ounce pan) round out the new MAC In Extra Dimension collection. Face and cheek duos, they have a luminous liquid-powder formula, and I’ve been alternating between two of them this week in Definitely Defined and Shape the Future.

Putting a highlighter and bronzer together in each pan takes the guesswork out of figuring out which colors go together (love that), but man! — these bronzers sure do shimmer.

The effect gets a little lost in these pics, but in real life it’s like WHOA! The other day I applied one of these as a contouring color before heading out to run errands, and I swear — I looked like a backup dancer on Beyonce’s Super Bowl performance.

MAC Definitely Defined Skinfinish, a silvery pink and a soft rose with shimmer

MAC Shape the Future Skinfinish, an iridescent pastel pink and a soft brick with light shimmer

Definitely Defined on the left and Shape the Future on the right

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Iridescent and Opalescent, MAC’s New Extra Dimension Eye Shadows Illuminate Lids Here in Our Dimension Too

April 9th, 2013 by Karen 22 Comments

“Warp drive on my mark, ensign. 3-2-1, mark! ETA to the MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadows in Opalesse, Smoky Mauve and Triple Impact, t-minus 10 seconds…”

My favorite thing about this time of year? You mean, other than the beautiful flowers everywhere (allergies, be damned!) and the reemergence of my favorite pair of flip-flops and the liberation of my toes?

The sunnier days also seem like a good excuse to wear shimmery, glimmering eye shadows.

Whenever I’m wearing something luminescent on my lids — perhaps something like the new MAC’s Extra Dimension Eye Shadows ($21 per 0.07-ounce pan) — as Tabs and I soak up the sun on our afternoon walks, I feel an extra bounce in my step. 😀

The six new shades, each in MAC’s hybrid liquid-powder formula, beam down to the planet’s surface (and MAC counters and stores) April 11 with the rest of the In Extra Dimension collection. The shadows range from sheer, opalescent shades too full-on frosts.

Of course, if you don’t want to wait those two more days, they are available now online…

I’ve been working with three of them for a few days — Opalesse, Triple Impact and Smokey Mauve — and we’ve gotten pretty close. I haven’t had any issues with fallout, and as long as I layer them on top of a primer, they last me from 8-10 hours, with barely a hint of creasing or fading (they crease and fade more noticeably when I wear them without primer)

MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Opalesse, a opalescent white with white pearl — MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Opalesse, an opalescent white with white pearl

MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Opalesse: This sheer opalescent shadow reminds me of a MAC Vex stripped of its greenish blue flash. A very pretty pinkish peach opal. Absolutely gorgeous buffed onto lids with a 217. It just glows!
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Triple Impact, a opalescent lavender with violet pearl

MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Triple Impact: Another opalescent shadow, except that this one’s lavender with violet pearl. On its own, it illuminates lids like a regular Thomas Edison, but I think its real strength is smokey eyes. I pat a little in the inner half or all over my lids atop a black creamy base, and the iridescent, shimmery purple adds a twinkle of sparkle that’s less intense than a trip on the glitter train.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Smoky Mauve, a mid-tone cool mauve — MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Smoky Mauve, a cool mid-toned mauve

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Chanel’s Fracas Nail Polish

April 9th, 2013 by Karen 17 Comments

Chanel Fracas Swatch — Two coats of Chanel Fracas

I’m on a Chanel kick right now. Fracas is a $27 limited edition shade from the spring collection.

You can find it now at counters and online.

Gorgeous, isn’t she?

What Do You Want Me To Do? Go Barefoot?

April 9th, 2013 by Karen 9 Comments

Dude, it’s like the universe created this piggy bank just for me.

Straight From Strutting Down Catwalks in New York and Paris, the Limited Edition MAC Fall ’13 Forecast/Lips Palette Now Hopes to Sashay Along a Boulevard With You

April 8th, 2013 by Karen 43 Comments

MAC Trend Forecast Fall 13 Forecast/Lips — The forecast calls for lips! — MAC Fall 13 Forecast/Lips, that is ($40)

If any brand’s got their finger on the pulse of makeup lovers like me, it’s got to be MAC. Especially when it comes to [INSERT ANY MAKEUP CATEGORY HERE OR] lip palettes. They’re hands down one of my favorite lip palette lines…and I don’t even consider myself a big lip palette fan!

It’s the colors they choose to put together — they just have a knack for it — like does this one go with that? Why yes, MAC, it does, and I can’t even figure out how/why!

Take their new $40 Fall ’13 Forecast/Lips palette, for instance, and its six fashion-forward fall shades. None of the colors, all of which have MAC’s preternaturally pigmented Amplified lipstick finish, seem wasted or like they’re merely taking up space.

The colors that come with the chic limited edition set stalked New York and Paris fall fashion week catwalks, and now they’re looking for love on all of our faces. 🙂 From colors for work lunches (I’m thinking any of the neutral colors on the palette’s left would do well) to drinks at a stylish lounge (any of the shades, really), this palette has it covered.

MAC Fall 2013 Forecast Lipstick swatches from the left: Au Naturale, This Is Autumn, Style Apparent, Rich New Mood, Red Statement and Fashion Noise

MAC Trend Forecast Fall 13 Forecast Lips Au Naturale — Au Naturale, a light neutral flesh shade with an Amplified finish

MAC Trend Forecast Fall 13 Forecast Lips This Is Autumn — This Is Autumn, a warm midtone flesh shadw tih an Amplified finish

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Don’t Forget to Bring Your Blush Brush, Babe, Because We’re Heading to a MAC Extra Dimension: The MAC Extra Dimension Blushes in Blazing Haute and Flaming Chic

April 8th, 2013 by Karen 25 Comments

MAC In Extra Dimension Blush Pictures, Swatches, Review — Wow! — I didn’t know there was an extra dimension… Well, I guess it’s always nice to have a spare. Here I’m wearing MAC In Extra Dimension Blush in Flaming Chic, available now online (coming to North American MAC counters and stores April 11; internationally this May)

Buckle your makeup safety belt, and brace your cheeks, because we’re about to break through the blush barrier! On the other side, an Extra Dimension, where MAC’s liquid-powder blushes radiate light, and adhere to cheeks like second skin.

MAC’s new 16-piece In Extra Dimension collection of brushes and hybrid liquid-powder eye shadows, blushes and Skinfinishes touches down like a NASA lunar lander on counters April 11 (it’s already available online). Its destination? An exotic land of luminous skin, eyes and cheeks, and color that lasts up to six hours.

The Extra Dimension blushes ($25 for a 0.22-ounce pan) come in five shades that range from sheer satin to high-shine metallic.

I test piloted two of them last weekend, and based on that, if civilian inter-dimensional travel ever becomes a reality, I’d want my spacesuit to have a special pocket for Blazing Haute and Flaming Chic.

Both of ’em just look so darned natural on my skin (I think so) and actually last a full eight hours.

Here’s a closer look…

MAC In Extra Dimension Blush in Blazing Haute, a a dirty peach ($25) — MAC In Extra Dimension Blush in Blazing Haute, a dirty peach ($25)

Blazing Haute: Nothing thrills my 30-something cheeks more than a peach blush with a pinch of juicy color and a velvety finish. The delicate pigment means I can’t muck things up too badly when I’m in a hurry, so no clown stripes (WHOOP!). Plus, the luster finish seems to brighten my face and erase a few years without pointing out the fact that my pores are at Defcon 3 now. Even better, Blazing Haute should look smokin’ hot on gals of all ages, since it’s neither very shiny nor sheer. It’s just right. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

MAC In Extra Dimension Blush in Flaming Chic, a bright bluish pink ($25)

Flaming Chic: So frightening in the pan! — but don’t let that scare you. This bright blush pink is surprisingly wearable. Like Blazing Haute, it’s probably more t-shirt and jeans than body-con dress and high heels, as it dusts cheeks with semi-transparent color, but it’s hot (picture the way your cheeks look when crush brushes your arm). 🙂 Lovely, natural and a perfect pairing for long, lush lashes and a lip stain. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A